The turn of the millennium brought with itself a renewed vigor, interest, and revitalization of the superhero and comic book movie genre. Riding on the backs of iconic franchises such as X-Men and Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, the modern facade of this multi-billion dollar industry arose. As of now, in 2024, no superhero and actor remains more anticipated than Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool in MCU’s Deadpool 3. Debuting as Marve’s Merc-with-a-mouth back in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the Canadian actor has now become perhaps the only possible person suited to play the role to perfection.

Interestingly, as much as Reynolds shaped Deadpool, the character also returned the favor by forever changing the charming actor’s career and maybe even his persona. Here are the top five ways in which the latter happened.

1. Box office versatility and bankability

Ryan Reynolds started acting at the age of 13 in the 1991 teen drama Fifteen. Thereafter, his stints in Hillside and The Odyssey proved his accountability as a sharp-witted yet charming persona. However, that very trait became his limitation. For a long period, he remained stereotyped in comedic roles, pushed ahead for his naturally handsome outlook. All of it changed briefly, yet for the worse. The actor’s first act as Deadpool in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine and then Green Lantern in 2010 landed as major disappointments and dropped him low on visibility.

The saving grace came when test footage from Fox with Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool leaked sometime in the mid-2010s. Fans went berserk and demanded a movie and following 2016’s Deadpool and its 2018 sequel, he broke the bank with both earning close to $800 million and becoming one of the highest-grossing R-rated movies of all time. Soon after, a deluge of opportunities opened for Reynolds, who starred in a wide genre of movies and led projects such as Free Guy, The Adam Project, and the most recent, IF. 

2. Critical acclaim and net-worth spike

Reynolds’ 2009 outing as Deadpool landed Fox in a critical massacre. Although the first half of the movie received praise for Ryan Reynolds’ wise-cracking brilliance, the studio shot itself in the foot by sewing his character’s mouth. Not only did it venture miles off comic accuracy, but it also halted the actor’s showcase. Dismayed, the Canadian, left no stone unturned in the 2016 iteration and the result came in a resounding box office success with the movie landing 85% on Rotten Tomatoes by the end of its run.

The result called for an all-out success. Ryan Reynolds won the Critics Choice Award for Best Actor in a Comedy while Deadpool won the Best Comedy. Moreover, with over 29 wins and 78 nominations, the flick earned the actor Canada’s and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Furthermore, initially paid an upfront of $2 million, the actor hauled in an additional $20 million from the movie’s success. The rate then settled to be his base price for acting even until now.

3. Booming businesses

Ryan Reynolds may be wildly popular for his sarcasm, but he also remains one with a keen business acumen. As soon as his net income surged, the actor did not feast on lavishness. Rather, he took all of it as potential investments. Referenced multiple times in Deadpool, his production company, Maximum Effort, gained widespread prominence. As of today, the company stands footed to unravel and revive a slew of projects. Additionally, it also stands as one of the major sources of revenue for the actor.

Only the tip of the iceberg, the actor shot up his net worth from $75 million before the movie to a staggering $350 million today. The feat came on the backs of his investments in Mint Mobile, Aviation Gin, Alpine F1, and, of course, Wrexham AFC. In terms of profitability, Reynolds owned a 25% stake in Mint Mobile which was sold at over $.135 billion to T-Mobile. In net returns, the actor gained over a whopping $300 million, which he then likely proceeded to invest in the likes of Wrexham.

4. Ryan Reynolds becomes a brand in himself

In mid-2023, an extraordinary pattern started to emerge. Taking note of Ryan Reynolds’ ability to light up the fortunes of brands with his creative wit in advertisements, many started to flock to him. Several firms and businesses started offering the actor stakes in their company just for his Midas touch. Rather, even after selling off Mint Mobile, he remained on the company’s roster as a creative advisor. With potentially no limit to his wit, the actor emerged as one of the most recognizable faces all over.

Heightened by his endeavors in sports and charity, Ryan Reynolds and Deadpool became synonymous with one another. As recently as a couple of days ago, the 47-year-old accepted his Emmy for Welcome to Wrexham by masquerading as the character. Furthermore, his notable donations directly affected his on-screen character’s popularity surge in the comics. From a fourth-wall-breaking-assassin, Deadpool became the poster boy for wit, sarcasm, and unhinged action hero with Ryan Reynolds at the helm.

5. Deadpool 3 and the MCU

In a similar fashion to how it becomes hard to imagine Iron Man as anyone but Robert Downey Jr., Ryan Reynolds has the same effect on Deadpool. After its acquisition by Disney, the Fox character reverted to Marvel, and plans stood afoot for its debut in the $55 billion Marvel Cinematic Universe. Kevin Feige stood wary of the actor’s importance and simply cast him as Deadpool again, without an iota of doubt. After a few disappointing releases in phases four and five, the upcoming third iteration remains his biggest hope.

Deadpool 3, currently slated for a July 26, 2024 release, stands as the single most important release for Marvel Studios. A grand entry of the mutants, a possible new direction for the multiverse, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine return, the package stands too pretty. After his Marvel entry, Ryan Reynolds will probably meet and greet the wider MCU characters while also possibly playing a major role in the upcoming Avengers movies.

What are your thoughts on the impact of Deadpool on Ryan Reynolds and vice versa? Let us know in the comments below.